What will happen on Thursday?

No one is quite sure what will happen on Thursday, September 1. Opposition party Chadema maintains they have a constitutional right to protest and the police say they’re ready for a showdown. Photo by Daniel Hayduk

No one is quite sure what to expect on Thursday, September 1.

That’s when opposition party Chadema maintains they have a constitutional right to hold pro-democracy demonstrations country-wide.

Their protest has been banned and police say they’re ready for a showdown.

“We therefore urge all peace-loving people who do not want to confront the police to stay away from the demonstrations. But should anyone choose to ignore the warning, we welcome them for a showdown,” says Dar police commander Simon Sirro.

“But should anyone choose to ignore the warning, we welcome them for a showdown.”

On Monday, police detained and questioned opposition leaders who were meeting in a hotel in Dar.

At this point it’s anyone’s guess as to if, when or where the demonstrations will happen.

The Canadian and US Embassy have urged their citizens to exercise caution and avoid demonstrations.

Thursday is also a busy day for the Prime Minister’s office who will have moved to Dodoma, and it’s also the 52nd anniversary of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF.)

This is a complex political issue: for a more in-depth look at the situation, read this article.